How Our Food Is Made (J9A)
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EN: The Present Simple Passive Voice (is/are + past participle) is used to describe facts, general truths, or processes where the doer of the action is obvious, unknown, or less important than the action itself. Here, 'is grown' indicates that rice undergoes the action of being cultivated.
Tea is grown on the hillsides of Taiwan.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'in many parts of' is used to describe a widespread distribution across various regions of a larger geographical area.
Wheat is harvested in many parts of Europe.
EN: Rice is the staple food for more than half of the world's population, particularly in Asia. The wet-rice cultivation method (paddy farming) has shaped the landscape, social structures, and cultural traditions of many Asian countries for thousands of years.
EN: The Present Simple Passive (am/is/are + past participle) is used to describe facts, general truths, or regular processes where the action is more important than the person performing it.
Coffee beans are harvested in autumn.
EN: The adverbial phrase 'by hand' is used to describe an action done manually using physical effort, rather than using machines.
EN: In many tea-producing regions of Asia, high-quality tea leaves are still harvested by hand to ensure only the finest top leaves and buds are selected, preserving the traditional craftsmanship of tea making.
EN: The Present Simple Passive Voice (is/are + past participle) is used to describe regular actions, facts, or routines where the person performing the action is obvious, unimportant, or unknown. In this sentence, 'is baked' focuses on the bread itself rather than the baker.
Letters are delivered to our office every afternoon.
EN: The word 'fresh' is used here as a flat adverb (an adverb that has the same form as its corresponding adjective) meaning 'newly' or 'recently'. It directly modifies the participle 'baked' to describe the state of the bread when the action occurs.
The flowers were cut fresh from the garden.
EN: In many Western cultures, buying freshly baked bread daily from a local bakery (or baking it at home) is a deeply rooted morning tradition, representing comfort, warmth, and the start of a new day.
EN: The Present Simple Passive Voice is used to describe facts, general truths, or regular actions when the agent (the person or thing doing the action) is obvious, unknown, or less important than the action itself. It is formed using 'am/is/are' + past participle (V3).
Coffee is grown in Brazil.
EN: The preposition 'on' is used with 'farm' (on a farm / on local farms) to indicate location, as a farm is considered an open area of land.
EN: In many English-speaking countries, there is a strong consumer preference for supporting 'local farms' and buying locally produced dairy and agriculture. This is associated with freshness, reducing carbon footprints (food miles), and supporting the local economy.
EN: The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. It is formed using 'be + past participle (V3)'. In this sentence, 'is made' is the present simple passive voice.
This book is written in English.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'be made from' is used when a substance is transformed into something else, and the original raw material is no longer visible or has changed its form (chemical or physical transformation). In contrast, 'be made of' is used when the original material is still recognizable.
Paper is made from wood.
EN: In Western culinary culture, cheese is classified by its source of milk (cow, goat, or sheep). Goat cheese (often referred to as 'chèvre' in French) has a distinct, tart flavor and is highly popular in Mediterranean and European cuisines.
EN: The Present Simple Passive Voice (am/is/are + past participle) is used to describe actions where the focus is on the action itself or the receiver of the action, rather than who performs it. In this sentence, 'are washed' and 'are sold' are passive forms because the vegetables do not wash or sell themselves.
The letters are delivered every afternoon.
EN: The subordinating conjunction 'before' is used to connect two clauses, indicating that the action in the main clause happens prior to the action in the subordinate clause. In this sentence, 'before' introduces the adverbial clause of time 'before they are sold'.
Please wash your hands before you eat.
EN: Present Simple Passive Voice: Formed with 'am/is/are + past participle'. It is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action (the fruit), rather than who performs the action.
The letters are delivered every afternoon.
EN: Adverb Placement: The adverb 'carefully' is placed at the end of the sentence to describe the manner in which the action (is packed) is performed.
The glass was handled gently.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. In this sentence, 'are dried' is the present simple passive, showing a general fact or regular process.
The tea leaves are harvested in spring.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'under the sun' acts as an adverbial of place/manner, indicating the location or condition under which the action of drying takes place.
The wet clothes were hung under the sun.
EN: Sun-drying is a traditional and natural method of processing coffee beans, often associated with 'natural' or 'dry process' coffees, which tend to have a sweeter and fruitier flavor profile compared to wet-processed beans.
EN: Passive Voice (Past Simple): Used to focus on the action or the receiver of the action rather than the doer. It is formed with 'was/were' + past participle (V3).
The letters were written by Mary.
EN: Prepositional Phrase 'by hand': An idiomatic phrase meaning made or done by a person using their hands, rather than by a machine.
This sweater was knitted by hand.
EN: In English-speaking countries, 'made by hand' or 'handmade' often carries a connotation of high quality, care, and premium value, contrasting with mass-produced factory goods.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. Here, 'is collected' emphasizes the process of gathering honey.
The mail is delivered every afternoon.
EN: The preposition 'from' is used to indicate the source or origin of something. In this sentence, it shows that the busy bees are the source of the honey.
We get fresh milk from local farms.
EN: The phrase 'busy bee' is a common English idiom used to describe someone who is very active and hardworking. This sentence plays on that literal and figurative association, as bees are famously industrious creatures.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. Here, 'is grown' emphasizes the process of cultivating the food.
The grapes are harvested in autumn.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'with + noun' is used to describe the manner in which an action is performed, functioning as an adverbial modifier.
She painted the canvas with great passion.
EN: The phrase 'with great care' reflects a cultural appreciation for craftsmanship, agriculture, and mindful consumption. In many cultures, food is not just fuel but a product of dedication and respect for nature.
EN: The adverb 'hard' is used here to modify the intransitive verb 'work'. In English, some adverbs have the same form as their corresponding adjectives (known as flat adverbs), and 'hard' is one of them. It means with great energy or effort.
She works hard to support her family.
EN: The preposition 'for' is used to indicate purpose, reason, or the recipient of an action. In this sentence, 'for our meals' shows the purpose or beneficiary of the farmers' hard work.
We should thank them for their help.
EN: This sentence reflects a universal appreciation for agriculture and the labor involved in food production, emphasizing the connection between daily meals and the hard work of farmers.
EN: The Present Perfect Tense (have + past participle) is used here with 'ever' to ask about life experiences up to the present moment.
Have you ever visited a chocolate factory?
EN: An indirect question (noun clause) 'how our food is made' functions as the object of the verb 'wondered'. It uses statement word order (subject + verb) rather than question word order.
Do you know where they grow these apples?
EN: In modern society, there is a growing movement toward food traceability and understanding farm-to-table processes, making this question highly relevant to contemporary consumers.
EN: The Present Simple Passive Voice (am/is/are + past participle) is used to describe facts, general truths, or processes where the doer of the action is obvious, unknown, or less important than the action itself. Here, 'is grown' focuses on the rice being cultivated.
Tea is grown on the hillsides of Taiwan.
EN: The preposition 'across' is used to describe movement or distribution throughout a wide area or in many parts of a country, region, or continent.
This traditional festival is celebrated across Asia.
EN: Wet-rice cultivation (paddy farming) in flooded fields is a signature agricultural landscape and a cornerstone of food security and culture across many Asian countries.
EN: Passive Voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. Here, 'are dried' and '[are] packed' are passive verbs describing what happens to 'the grains'.
The letters are sorted and then delivered to each office.
EN: Ellipsis in Coordinate Clauses: When two passive verbs share the same subject ('the grains') and auxiliary verb ('are'), the auxiliary verb can be omitted in the second clause to avoid repetition (e.g., 'and then [are] packed').
The apples are washed and then sliced into small pieces.
EN: Present Simple Passive Voice: Formed with 'am/is/are + past participle'. It is used when the action itself or the receiver of the action is more important than the doer.
The mail is delivered every afternoon.
EN: Prepositional Phrase of Manner ('by hand'): Used to describe how an action is performed, specifically indicating manual labor without the use of machinery.
These beautiful rugs were woven by hand.
EN: In many traditional tea-producing regions across Asia, high-quality tea leaves are still harvested by hand rather than by machines. This labor-intensive process ensures that only the youngest and most tender leaves (usually the bud and the top two leaves) are selected, which is crucial for producing premium tea.
EN: Passive Voice (be + past participle): Used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. Here, 'are rolled and dried' shows what happens to the tea leaves.
The grapes are harvested and pressed to make wine.
EN: Infinitive of Purpose (to + verb): Used to express the reason or purpose for doing something, equivalent to 'in order to'.
She wakes up early to exercise before work.
EN: The sentence describes the traditional orthodox method of tea processing, which involves rolling (to bruise the leaves and release flavorful juices) and drying (to stop oxidation). This highlights the craftsmanship involved in tea production, which is highly valued in many Asian cultures.
EN: The Present Simple Passive Voice (is/are + past participle) is used to describe regular actions, habits, or general truths when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than who performs it.
Letters are delivered to the office every afternoon.
EN: Adverbial phrases of time and place are often placed at the end of a sentence. When both are present, the adverbial of place ('in ovens') usually precedes the adverbial of time ('early each day').
The children play in the park after school.
EN: In many Western cultures, bakeries operate very early in the morning so that fresh bread, a daily staple, is ready for customers at breakfast time. This routine is a classic symbol of local community life.
EN: Passive Voice (be + past participle): Used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. In this sentence, 'is collected' and '(is) tested' are passive verbs sharing the same subject 'Milk'.
The letters are delivered by the mail carrier every afternoon.
EN: Ellipsis in Coordinate Clauses: When two clauses with the same subject and auxiliary verb are joined by a conjunction like 'and', the repeated subject and auxiliary verb ('is' in this case) can be omitted in the second clause to avoid repetition.
The food was prepared with care and served to the guests.
EN: Passive Voice (be + past participle): Used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. In this sentence, 'are grown' and '[are] sold' are passive verbs describing what happens to 'many fruits'.
These books are printed in Taiwan.
EN: Ellipsis in Coordinate Clauses: When two passive verbs share the same subject and auxiliary verb ('are'), the auxiliary verb can be omitted in the second clause to avoid repetition (e.g., 'are grown... and [are] sold').
The letters were written and mailed yesterday.
EN: In English-speaking countries, buying food 'locally' at 'farmers' markets' is highly valued as a sustainable, eco-friendly lifestyle choice that supports local farmers and ensures freshness.
EN: The passive voice is used to focus on the person or thing affected by the action. It is formed with 'be + past participle' (is produced). The agent (the doer of the action) is introduced with the preposition 'by'.
This beautiful song was written by a young musician.
EN: The word 'hardworking' is a compound adjective formed by combining the adverb 'hard' and the present participle 'working'. It is used before a noun to describe someone who puts a lot of effort into their work.
The hardworking students passed the exam with flying colors.
EN: This sentence reflects a growing global awareness and appreciation for the agricultural supply chain and the labor-intensive process of food production. In many cultures, there is an increasing emphasis on supporting local farmers and acknowledging the hard work of those who provide our daily meals.
EN: The sentence uses the Present Simple Passive Voice ('is grown') to describe a general fact or process where the agent (the person doing the action) is not the main focus. The structure is: Subject + am/is/are + Past Participle (V3).
How is tea processed after it is picked?
EN: This is an information question (Wh- question) in the passive voice. It begins with the question word 'How', followed by the auxiliary verb 'is', the subject 'rice', and the past participle 'grown'.
Where is coffee grown?
EN: In English conversations, adding the listener's name (like 'Emma') at the end of a question is a common way to make the dialogue feel more personal, friendly, and direct.
EN: Passive Voice (Present Simple): Used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. Formed with 'am/is/are + past participle'.
The tea leaves are picked by hand.
EN: Agent with 'by': In passive sentences, the person or thing that performs the action (the agent) is introduced using the preposition 'by'.
This book was written by a famous author.
EN: The mention of 'wet fields' (often called paddy fields) refers to the traditional method of growing rice in flooded areas, which is a staple agricultural practice across many Asian countries.
EN: Passive Voice in Questions (Past Simple): To ask a question in the passive voice about a past action, we use the structure 'Was/Were + subject + past participle'. This structure is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action (the bread), rather than who performed it.
Was this letter written yesterday?
EN: Demonstrative Adjectives: 'This' is a demonstrative adjective used to point out a specific singular noun (bread) that is close to the speaker in terms of space or time.
This coffee tastes delicious.
EN: The past simple passive voice (was/were + past participle) is used to emphasize the action rather than the person who performed it. Here, 'was baked' focuses on the bread being baked.
The letter was written yesterday.
EN: The word 'just' is used as an adverb here to mean 'very recently' or 'only a moment ago', emphasizing that the action happened very close to the present time.
She just finished her homework.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, emphasizing that baked goods are 'fresh' or baked 'just this morning' is a strong selling point for local bakeries and cafes, highlighting quality and local craftsmanship.
EN: Present Simple Passive Voice (Interrogative): Used to ask about a regular action or general truth where the receiver of the action (tea) is more important than the doer. It is formed by placing the auxiliary verb 'be' (Is/Are) at the beginning, followed by the subject and the past participle of the main verb.
Are these grapes grown in France?
EN: The preposition 'by' to indicate agency: In passive sentences, 'by' is used to introduce the agent (the person, animal, or thing) that performs the action.
The cake was made by my mother.
EN: In many traditional tea-producing regions in Asia, high-quality tea leaves are still hand-picked to ensure only the finest buds and leaves are selected, as machines can damage the delicate plants. Asking whether tea is picked by machines often relates to the discussion of tea quality and artisanal versus industrial production.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used here ('is picked') to focus on the action being done to the subject (the tea) rather than the person performing the action.
The grapes are harvested in autumn.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'by hand' is an adverbial phrase of manner, indicating that the action is performed manually rather than by machines.
EN: In many traditional tea-producing regions, high-quality teas (especially top-grade green tea or oolong tea) are still harvested exclusively by hand. Hand-picking ensures that only the tenderest young leaves and buds (often 'one bud and two leaves') are selected, preventing damage that mechanical harvesters might cause.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. Here, 'were grown' is the past simple passive, indicating that the action of growing the apples happened in the past.
These grapes were harvested last month.
EN: The preposition 'on' is typically used with 'farm' to indicate location (on a farm), rather than 'in' or 'at'.
My grandparents live on a dairy farm.
EN: In many English-speaking countries, there is a strong 'farm-to-table' movement and a preference for buying locally grown produce ('local farm') to support the community and ensure freshness.
EN: Passive Voice (be + past participle): Used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. Here, 'is delivered' shows that the milk receives the action of delivery.
The mail is delivered at noon.
EN: Object Complement (Adjective describing state): The adjective 'fresh' functions as a subject complement describing the state of the milk when it is delivered, rather than an adverb modifying the verb.
The fish was served hot.
EN: In many Western countries, historically, milkmen delivered fresh milk in glass bottles directly to people's doorsteps every morning. While less common now due to supermarkets, local dairy delivery services still exist as a premium, eco-friendly option.
EN: The Present Simple Passive Voice (am/is/are + past participle) is used to focus on the action or the receiver of the action rather than the doer. In this sentence, 'are made' emphasizes the process of making the snacks, while the actual makers are either unknown or less important.
These books are printed in Taiwan.
EN: The preposition 'in' is used to indicate a position inside a defined three-dimensional space or building, such as 'small shops'.
We had lunch in a cozy restaurant.
EN: In many English-speaking countries, there is a strong appreciation for 'small shops' or local independent bakeries and confectioneries. Buying snacks made in small, local shops is often associated with higher quality, supporting the local economy, and traditional craftsmanship compared to mass-produced factory goods.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used here ('is produced') to focus on the receiver of the action (good food) rather than the agent who performs the action.
This book was written by a famous author.
EN: The preposition 'with' is used to express the manner or attitude with which an action is performed, followed by abstract nouns ('love and care').
She completed the difficult task with patience.
EN: The phrase 'made with love' or 'produced with love and care' is a common English expression used by home cooks, bakers, and artisanal food producers to emphasize the high quality, dedication, and personal touch put into preparing food, contrasting it with mass-produced industrial food.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
Done by a person using their hands rather than by a machine.
Agricultural fields, typically for rice cultivation, that are intentionally covered with water.
Doing something very carefully and with a lot of attention to detail.
Examined or analyzed to ensure that something is safe for consumption or use.